Toad Raising.

[JRNash]

7 years old. Missing a lot of teeth.

50 and in the same shape

 

[JRNash]

Lol dentist appointment on Friday. I'd rather get my butt whooped

 

[ChcknNurse]

I would definitely try the bubble wrap.  My experience with shipped eggs says individually bubble wrapped eggs have a higher hatch rate.  You may get the occasional broken or cracked egg, but overall hatch rate should still be higher

I had eggs shipped from 4 locations the year before last. Some were shipped with them laying sideways, smh (air cells rolled freely). Still, all except one of those hatched. The best packing/shipping I experienced was Gary Farms. They outline their method on this site. They used a box inside box, if I recall correctly, not just the wrapping of individual eggs. Though they shipped the same distance as the others, they were able to withstand the jostling.

My daughter is In FFA and is very involved... takes agriculture and veterinary courses in high school. How much are you selling these eggs for? I'd love for her to get the opportunity to explain what you all have developed. Last year as Freshman they had to butcher broilers when one could no longer stand. It would be great to introduce progress!

 

[ChcknNurse]

Here is a link on fermenting feed. It gets hard to do in the winter months way up north here where it is below freezing for months at a time. But all of the warm months I set up buckets and rotate through. I have 3 buckets going so that it sits for 3 days before it gets used. Then I refill the used bucket and put it at the end of the line for it to wait its turn to be used.

http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/p/fermented-feed.html

I love fermented feed. My daughter doesn't like to scoop out super wet feed. So we have found a compromise. I tell her to let it be very wet for a week, or until it really starts to smell. Then, add more crumble to make it less sloppy.

 

[duluthralphie]

I took some videos of the Toads tonight running to me, chasing me and just being chickens out free ranging. It is such a shame that a meat bird has to have such a sweet personality.

Mine are 3 months old now. They are definitely larger than a fryer or whole bird in the store if processed.

For those of you wanting them for 4H, I am thinking you need them around 8 weeks old at your county fair, so count backwards Holms for the day should set you some eggs.

I am still thinking I only have one rooster out of my 10 oldest. That should be good for eggs next spring or this fall for the Southern people.

I got 2 eggs today, Maybe the molt is finishing on one of them. It was nice to get two for a change.

I will try to get the video uploaded in the next day or two and put on here. It is pretty boring, but I enjoyed taking it.

 

[JRNash]

This southerner will incubate ANY TIME OF YEAR

 

[duluthralphie]

This southerner will incubate ANY TIME OF YEAR

And does...

BTW I knew that.

 

[yellowherb]

I haven't turned off my incubator since my hubby built it Nearly 2 years now.

 

[duluthralphie]

I haven't turned off my incubator since my hubby built it Nearly 2 years now.

Up here hatching is seasonal.....poor us..

 

[MNChickMom]

You are correct with the 8 weeks for 4h market pen for anyone wanting to show in Minnesota 4h fairs.